Talking to Ourselves?

I have a silly question. “Do you ever talk to yourself?” Of course you do… I think we all have those conversations in our brains. Now for my second question, “Who are you talking to?” Some people may say that they are just rambling to themselves. But if you think about it, maybe there is another answer.
Author John Eldredge tells the story of a Christmas tradition where his family goes into the woods to chop down their annual Christmas tree. It was the weekend after Thanksgiving and John, his wife Stasi, and their two boys scheduled their trip on that Friday. As the week unfolded, things were hectic and crazy, as we all know life can be, but the family was determined to go on Friday. But, John prayed about going. When he did, he said to himself, “we need to wait until next weekend.” Indeed, his wife heard the same thing when she prayed about it. But, they had plans the next weekend and getting the tree would really work best the way they had planned… so off they went! Did I mention that John and his family live in Colorado? That weekend as they headed into the woods, the snow came down in piles and the jeep slid off the road ending up in a ditch. What had been a fantastic family outing turned into an ordeal. After not one, but two flat tires, a dead battery, and 10 degree weather, the family got their Charlie Brown Christmas tree… all three feet of it. Why didn’t John and Stasi listen to God’s wise counsel? Simple, they like so many of us want to do things our own way.
In the Bible, the book of James 4:8 says, “Come near to God and God will come near to you” and the book of Isaiah 50:4 claims, “God wakens me morning by morning, wakens my ear to listen like one being taught.” God really wants to have a conversation with us. Really. But while God wants to speak with us, we are not attuned to God’s voice. I believe that we can learn to hear God just like we learn to play an instrument. In fact, I think that more than we realize it, we are in constant communication with God.
One evening I was working with the teenagers at my church and I brought up the questions I posed earlier about talking to ourselves. One of the teenagers responded. As I looked at him, I could see the light bulb pop on. He said that just before he grabbed the biggest kid in school in a moment of after school horseplay, the thought burst into his mind….”don’t do it.” With a big grin and a large cast on his right arm he knew that the voice in his head wasn’t solely his own idea, but the voice of God trying to look out for him. We hear that voice from time to time but most of the time, we ignore it. Certainly, even the best listeners miss God’s voice from time to time, but if we ask questions of God, we may find surprising and real answers. “What are you saying?” That is a question that should constantly be on our minds.
So here is the challenge. For the next few weeks, every day take the time to ask God “What are you saying to me?” Take the time after to listen… as in be quiet. It may be done anywhere, just try it and let’s see what you hear. You may even think yourself nuts, but that’s okay we can all be nutty sometimes. I think that in a few weeks, if you practice this simple exercise, I believe you will find God in a closer way. My daughters are taking piano lessons. They have been at it for months. Do you think they play better now or when they started… exactly! You will get better at it, but it may at first seem like sour notes… but simply try it… talk to yourself… talk to God.